Full power drive mechanism for steam or explosive engines



April D. s. DILLENBACH 2,239,663

FULL POWER DRIVE MECHANISM FOR STEAM OR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Filed Dec. 21, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l In venfo;

24/12 51 5. 2/4 A f/VB/ICH,

A iiorney D. S. DILLENBACH April 22, 1941.-

FULL POWER DRIVE MECHANISM FOR STEAM 0R EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Filed Dec. 21; 19:59 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor ZA/v/EL 5. Eu L E/VB/ICH,

A ttorneys April 1941- D. s. DILLENBACH 2,239,663

FULL POWER DRIVE MECHANISM FOR STEAM OR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Fil ed Dec. 21, 19:59

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor DAN/[L 5..D/LA/VBACH7 9 By flawdodh A iiomeys d 2 li- D. s. DILLENBACH 2,239,663 FULL POWER DRIVE MECHANISM FOR STEAM OR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES April 22, 1941.

Filed Dec. 21, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 DAN/a J. fi/L ZE/VBA (/1,

51m, A tiorneys Patented Apr. 22, 1941 FULL POWER STEAM OR DRIVE MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Daniel S. Dillenbaoh, Hastings, Nebr. Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,419

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a full-power drive mechanism for either steam or explosive engines of the reciprocating piston type, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will convert reciprocatory motion into a rotary motion and is especially adapted for use in lieu of connecting rods and a crank shaft and is so constructed that the full power from each piston may be utilized or delivered to the power takeoff shaft and includes means for driving the pistons on their non-power strokes by the pistons which are on their power strokes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, illustrating a full-power drive mechanism for either a steam or explosive engine and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the modified form of my invention.

Figure 7 is a section, illustrating a rack bar and gear.

Figure 8 is a detail vertical sectional view of a combined drive wheel and ratchet mechanism.

For convenience the present invention is shown in connection with an engine having a pair of cylinders with Howevenit is to be understood that the present invention may be used with engines employing a greater number of cylinders and pistons if desired.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a bed or base on which are mounted cylinders 6 and reciprocally mounted in said cylinders are pistons I that are adapted to reciprocate alternately to each other, that is, when one piston is on its power stroke the other piston is on its non-power stroke and each piston is equipped with a rod 8 secured thereto in any well known manner to which is pivoted an elongated frame 9 and pivoted to the latter are hangdetail side elevation, partly in reciprocating pistons therein.

e'rs [0 arranged in pairs. A ratchet bar H is pivotally mounted on the hangers and underlies the elongated frame 9. One hanger of certain of said pairs of hangers has angularly disposed portions H provided with cam engaging pins I2.

A main frame I3 is mounted on the base 5 and underlies the frames 9 and ratchet bars H and has journaled transversely thereof a power takeoff shaft I4 on which are secured ratchet gears l5 engaged and disengaged by the ratchet bars ll during the reciprocation of the frames 9 by the pistons to which said frames 9 are connected.

Elongated cam tracks 16 each have one end pivotally mounted on the main frame 13, as shown at IT, while its opposite end rests on the main frame 13 Within the path of movement of the pins l2.

During the reciprocation of the pistons 1 the ratchet bars are reciprocated and act to engage and drive the ratchet gears l5 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 and to ratchet free of said ratchet gears when the pistons are traveling on their non-power strokes. By referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that the piston shown in full, lines is at the end of its working stroke, the ratchet bar having rotated the ratchet gear in the direction indicated by the arrow. During the movement of this piston on its nonpower stroke, the pins I2 ride upon the cam tracks i6 elevating the ratchet bar ll out of mesh with the ratchet gear and on said piston reaching the limit of its non-power stroke the pins 12 pass off of the left-hand ends or pivoted endsof said cam tracks and allow the ratchet bar to gravitate into mesh with the ratchet gear so that on said piston moving on its power stroke the ratchet gear will be driven in the direction indicated by the arrow.

' The hangers losupport the ratchet bars H for upward and downward movements. During the travel of the pistons l on their non-power strokes, the pins [2 ride the cams l6 and thereby raise the ratchet bars ll out of engagement with the ratchet gears Hi. Just as the pistons 1 complete their non-power strokes, the pins l2 ride off of the hinged ends of the cams and permit the ratchet bars to gravitate into engagement with the ratchet gears so that during the power strokes of the pistons, the ratchet gears will be rotated and thereby drive the power takeoff shaft. The pins [2 travel under the cams l6 during the power strokes of the pistons and as the latter complete the power strokes, the pins pass from under the free ends of the cams so as to again ride onto the cams during the next nonpower strokes of the pistons.

Shafts 19 are journaled on the main frame 13 and have secured thereto gears 20 and 2|. The gears 20 are engaged by rack bars 22 which are pivotally connected to the ratchet bars II and reciprocate therewith. The gears 2| are of the beveled type and mesh with a beveled gear 23 secured on a shaft 24 journaled on the frame I3. The arrangement of the gears 2| and 23 brings about rotation of the gears 20 in opposite directions to each other. The purpose of this drive between the gears 2B is to bring about driving of the pistons on their non-power strokes by the pistons that are on the power strokes. In other words, when one piston as shown in Figure 2 is moving on its power stroke it is driving the other piston on its non-power stroke through the arrangement of the rack bars 22, gears 20, shafts I 9 and gears 2| and 23.

Through the use of the ratchet mechanism for converting reciprocatory motion into rotary motion or for driving the power takeoff shaft l4 in one direction, the full power of the piston while on its power stroke will be delivered to the power takeoff shaft with a minimum amount of friction.

Side vertically arranged walls 25 are carried by the base 5 and further rotatably support the power takeoff shaft l4.

Referring to my modified form of the invention, the base is indicated by the character 26 and the cylinders by the character 27. The reciprocating pistons in the cylinders are indicated by 28 and have connected thereto in any well known manner rods 29 on which are formed rack plates 33 and 3|. A gear 32 is journaled on the base 26 and meshes with the rack plates 3| to bring about alternate reciprocation of the pistons.

Upstanding side walls 33 are provided on the base and rotatably support a power takeoff shaft 34 to which is secured a gear 35 that meshes with a gear 36 secured on an intermediate shaft 31. Arranged in alignment with the intermediate shaft 31 are end shafts 38 which have the ends of the intermediate shaft piloted therein, as shown at 39. Bearings 46 supported by pedestals 4| mounted on the base 26 rotatably support the intermediate and end shafts, the end shafts also being journaled in the side walls 33. It is to be understood that the intermediate and end shafts rotate free of each other. Gears 42 are secured on the end shafts 38 and mesh with the rack plates 80. Thus it will be seen that the end shafts rotate in opposite directions by the recipror cation of the rods 29 and to rotate the intermediate shaft in one direction by the opposite rotation of said end shafts combined fly wheels and ratchet gears 42' are provided which consists of fly wheel portions 43 having pivoted thereto a plurality of spring influenced dogs 44 which coact with ratchet gears 45. The ratchet gears 45 are secured on the end shafts 38 while the fly wheel portions are secured on the intermediate shaft 31 and thereby bring about continuous r0- tation of the power takeoff shaft in one direction by the rotation of the end shafts 38 in opposite directions. Thus it will be seen that the alternate reciprocation of the pistons will bring about a continuous rotation of the power takeoff shaft in one direction and that when one piston is on its power stroke it drives the other piston on its non-power stroke.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a base, cylinders on said base, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, rods secured to said pistons, a power takeoff shaft journaled on said base, a main frame carried by said base, ratchet frames pivoted to said rods, ratchet gears secured to the power takeoff shaft, ratchet bars pivotally connected to the ratchet frames to coact with the ratchet gears in driving the power takeoff shaft in one direction during the movement of the ratchet bars in one direction and to ratchet free of said ratchet gears during the movement of the ratchet bars in an opposite direction, and means for bringing about disengagement of the ratchet bars from the ratchet gears duringthe movement of the ratchet bars in one direction and to permit engagement of the ratchet bars with the ratchet gears during movement of the ratchet bars in an opposite direction.

2. In a device of the class described, a base, cylinders on said base, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, rods secured to said pistons, a power takeoff shaft journaled on said base, a main frame mounted on the base forming a journal for the power takeoff shaft, ratchet frames pivotally connected to the rods, ratchet gears secured to the power takeoff shaft, hangers pivoted to the ratchet frames, ratchet bars pivoted to said hangers and to move into and out of mesh with the ratchet gears during the reciprocation of the ratchet frames in opposite directions, pins on said hangers, and cam tracks pivotally mounted on the main frame to be engaged by said pins to disengage the ratchet bars from the ratchet scars on movement of the ratchet frames in one direction and to permit engagement of the ratchet bars with the ratchet gears on movement of the ratchet frames in an opposite direction.

3. In a device of the class described, a base, cylinders on said base, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, rods secured to said pistons, a power takeoff shaft journaled on said base, a main frame mounted on the base forming a journal for the power takeoff shaft, ratchet frames pivotally connected to the rods, ratchet gears secured to the power takeoff shaft, hangers pivoted to the ratchet frames, ratchet bars pivoted to said hangers and to move into and out of mesh with the ratchet gears during the reciprocation of the ratchet frames in opposite directions, pins on said hangers, cam tracks pivotally mounted on the main frame to be engaged by said pins to disengage the ratchet bars from the ratchet gears on movement of the ratchet frames in one direction and to permit engagement of the ratchet bars with the ratchet gears on movement of the ratchet frames in an opposite direction, and a gearing mechanism connecting the ratchet frames whereby the piston on its power stroke will drive the other piston when on its non-power stroke.

4. In a device of the class described, a base, cylinders on said base, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, rods secured to said pistons, a power takeoff shaft journaled on said base, a main frame mounted on the base forming a journal for the power takeofi shaft, ratchet frames pivotally connected to the rods, ratchet gears secured to the power takeofi shaft, hangers piv.

ratchet bars with the ratchet gears on movement of the ratchet frames in an opposite direction, shafts journaled on said main frame, reversing gear mechanism connecting said latter-named shafts, gears secured to said latter-named shafts, and rack bars pivoted to the ratchet frames and engaging the latter-named gears.

DANIEL S, DILLENBACH. 

